Technical Magazine

Hailing from the heart of Finland, the masters of melodic death metal, Noumena, returned on February 27th of this year after a long wait with their new single, "Kuolemankello" (The Beetle of Death). This intense, atmospheric, and catchy track paves the way for the band's seventh studio album.

After a period of silence dedicated to perfecting their craft, Noumena returns with a refined sound that captures the essence of the band: a unique blend of Nordic melancholy and boundless energy.

Composer and guitarist Tuukka Tuomela is thrilled with the result:

“It’s a classic Noumena track with catchy melodies, powerful riffs, and a memorable chorus. With its epic musical structure, the song is the perfect choice for the first single from our upcoming album.”

Lyricist Hannu Savolainen sheds light on the somber theme:

“In folklore, the 'Kuolemankello' has been considered an omen of death. In this story, the beetle buzzing inside the wooden walls warns of a grim fate. The song is set during the savage era of the Great Wrath in 18th-century Finland. However, even in this grim tale, there is a small glimmer of hope, as is often the case in Noumena songs.”

Listen to the single on music services (Spotify, Apple Music, Deezer, tidal etc.)
Watch the lyric video on YouTube.

The single offers a first glimpse of Noumena's seventh album, which is scheduled for release in August.

Line-up
Antti Haapanen - Growls
Suvi Uura - Vocals
Markus Hirvonen - Guitars, Vocals
Ville Lamminaho - Guitars, Mandolin, Vocals
Tuukka Tuomela - Guitars
Hannu Savolainen - Bass
Ilkka Unnbom - Drums.



Haunted Zoo Productions

Band: Legionary
Country of Origin: United States
Genre: Melodic Death Metal/Thrash Metal
Album: Never-Ending Quest for Purpose
Themes: War, Chaos. Inner struggles, Life.
Release date: March 6th, 2026
Label: Unsigned/Independent
Mixing and Mastering: Mike Low
Engineering: Ben Karas
All Music & Lyrics composed by: Frank D'Erasmo
Album art: Mark Cooper.

Legionary is a band that combines the structural framework of Melodic Death Metal with the fast-paced rhythms of Thrash Metal, creating a solid foundation of sounds that explode from the moment you press play on their music. Their discography is somewhat unusual due to their short history, currently consisting of two full-length albums and seven EPs. The band has experienced periods of highs and lows in its original lineup, and now only a solo project remains, led by the genius Frank D'Erasmo (drums/rhythm guitar). Therefore, he currently dedicates himself exclusively to studio projects, but with this as a base, this musician has been composing music that has evolved over time and has managed to improve the quality of his creations, although this is not surprising, since listening to his entire discography we realize that there is not a single song that does not give you a feeling of joy when listening to them and having a good time in the process.

Picking up where they left off on their previous EP "Prison Realm", Legionary takes the same songwriting path, with the same style but even more powerful, finally creating their second full-length album titled Never-Ending Quest for Purpose, in which all the members from the previous album have returned, including vocalist Chris Clancy (As I Lay Dying, Invictus, Mutiny Within) and lead guitarist Tony Barhoum (Chaos Sanctuary, Condition Critical), but this time with the great addition of mixing engineer Mike Low. An album that marks the new direction this group has taken, with a meticulously exceptional sound and absurdly brilliant quality, resulting in material that fans of this band will adore and treasure. It sounds so great in every way, with electric guitars so crisp that every damn guitar riff enhances the brutality, speed, and heaviness of each song, with solos and harmonics worthy of a new approach that create an indescribable atmosphere that you can feel in your entire being when you hear those melodic parts generated in every strum of the guitar strings, along with the bass that follows every score to the letter and doesn't hide at all; on the contrary, it's so fully integrated into the compositional rhythm of the music that you clearly hear how every riff resonates. And what can we say about the drums? A frenetic mix of percussion that can be lightning-fast but drops in intensity when the need for a more practical approach with the string melodies. The accompanying sounds are so chaotic yet beautiful in this new material that they leave us speechless. Speaking of words, the vocalist's voice is so perfectly suited to the established rhythms of the music itself, shifting from guttural growls to clean vocals or truly gorgeous, raw screams that don't get lost in the instruments; on the contrary, they enhance the beauty of the material in every song, resulting in an album that is so complete from beginning to end.

Starting with the first song, Sentenced to a Life of Chronic Guilt, an instrumental track that clearly indicates what awaits you, with violent, fast, and concise guitar riffs, punctuated by the extraordinary work of the drums that maintain the preferred rhythm to further enhance the harmonics introduced in this track, accompanied by solos that seem to want to destroy the guitar strings due to their meticulousness, but which know how to hit the nail on the head of the creative scheme, with the bass that accompanies them in the background of the dissonance and that makes itself known from beginning to end, then the curtain rises with If the Judges Became the Judged, the second track which starts with more punch with guttural vocals and emphasized riffs, then arranges them in a much more melodic structure with the accompaniment of clean vocals that shape the ability to give the song an evolution, until reaching a point where the central axis is the climax generated by a change of heavier rhythm, with a faster drum but following the rhythm of the other instruments to start with the appropriate opening of the guitar solo that explodes in all its splendor, highlighting the scores of the instruments even more. But this would only be a little bit of the context that the beginning of this album has generated for us, since the other songs are just as tasty, with changes of rhythms between the accelerated and the melodic, generating a much more energetic aura in the process. With only five songs on this album, each around five or six minutes long, Legionary managed to create a complete album that lasts approximately half an hour. The final track, "Story Without Closure," clocks in at nearly twelve minutes, serving as an excellent conclusion. Its varied tempos and rhythms in the arrangements leave you wanting more and more noise. What we mean by this is that such long tracks can often become tedious, but not in this case. Here, you can listen closely to each instrument's score as if it doesn't exhaust you in the process, giving you a feeling of intense, fresh, and chaotic energy that never lets up. The result is a track that provides the perfect resolution, especially with the inclusion of a violin solo that brought tears to our eyes—something only Legionary can achieve with their creations. It completely shifts our expectations and transforms the song into a beautiful piece that ends on a high note.

Without a doubt, each of the five songs highlights the drive and desire to transcend the basic forms of music composition, taking into account the passage of time and the new mastering methods available today. Thanks to this, we can immediately notice the significant change in Frank D'Erasmo's creative mind, along with the impressive lineup he has assembled to create his songs. We expected nothing less; simply by looking at the names of the bands these musicians have been or are currently in, we can get an idea that it will be something great from the outset. But certainly, not just anyone can create an album worthy of being listened to from beginning to end and that is so good. Experience, talent, and creativity will always be the best weapons of musicians who make extreme music, because the ability to create such an excellent and beautiful album from beginning to end, one that doesn't let go, that keeps you on top of every damn change of rhythm, that is constantly evolving, or that simply delivers the necessary punch to make you shake your head in all directions without losing the thread of the music, is not so easy.

That said, we are truly grateful to have listened to this material countless times before being able to write anything appropriate for an album that deserves a perfect score this year, being the first album we are giving such a rating, because the spectacular quality is evident, the preferred arrangements of each instrument involved, the effort that went into creating this material and above all the damn balls to make a fu***ng beautiful album. Without a doubt, Never-Ending Quest for Purpose is Legionary's best work to date. Their discography is remarkably consistent, with every song a gem. They consistently deliver excellent work, consistently reaching new heights in compositional excellence. We firmly believe this album deserves the applause and praise of all their fans, and those listening for the first time will be pleasantly surprised. They'll enjoy it from beginning to end, just as we did, along with their entire discography. So go follow them and crank up the volume on their latest release—you truly won't regret it.

Featured songs: All the songs on the album.

Legionary Line-up:
Frank D’Erasmo - Rhythm Guitars, Drums, Bass
Tony Barhoum - Lead Guitars
Chris Clancy - Vocals.

Guest/Session:
Ben Karas - Violin Solo on "Story Without Closure".

FFO: Into Eternity, Darkane, Sylosis, Fear Catalyst.



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